JP2007007027A - Pressure cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pressure cooker having a pressure cooking mode and a normal pressure cooking mode, whose safety is enhanced by automatically controlling the cooker in the normal pressure cooking mode if a lid body is half-locked when the operation of the cooker is started or within a prescribed period of time after the start of the operation. <P>SOLUTION: The pressure cooker 1 comprises a container 7 into which rice is loaded, a cooker body 2 with an opened part in which the container 7 is stored and a heating means 5, the lid body 10 for covering the opened part of the cooker body 2, a pressure valve 13 for adjusting the internal pressure in the container 7, a pressure valve opening mechanism 18 for controlling the pressure valve 13, and a control device 31 for cooking the rice by controlling the heating means 5. The pressure cooker 1 also has a detecting means 26 for detecting the engagement state between the lid body 10 and the cooker body 2. The control device 31 has a switching means 29 for switching the mode to a pressure cooking mode or to a normal pressure cooking mode. If the half-locked state of the lid body 10 is detected by the detecting means 26, the switching means 29 is operated when the operation of the pressure cooker 1 is started or within the prescribed period of time after the start of the operation to change the mode to the normal pressure cooking mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure cooker, and more particularly, to a pressure cooker with improved safety by switching a cooking mode in accordance with a lid locking state at the start of operation of the cooker.

  A pressure cooker, for example, a pressure rice cooker, puts a rice-cooked food consisting of rice and water into a container, heats the rice-cooked food in the container and cooks the food by boosting the inside of the container. The inside of the container is hot and the internal pressure is high. For this reason, if the lid of the container is opened unexpectedly at the time of cooking, hot water and heated cooked rice scatters outside, and there is a risk of burns to the user, so this kind of rice cooker Usually, a lid lock mechanism is attached so that the lid does not open unexpectedly during operation of the rice cooker (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

  FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure cooker described in the following Patent Document 1, and FIG. 10 shows an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part of FIG.

  The pressure cooker 50 includes a container main body 51 and a lid body 52, and the lid body 52 is locked to the opening 51 a of the container main body 51 in a closed state by a lock mechanism 53.

  The lock mechanism 53 includes a lock lever 55 pivotally attached to the cover body cover 54, a lateral hole 52a formed on the side surface of the cover body on which the protrusion 55a at the lower end of the lock lever 55 is engaged, The safety rubber valve 56 fits into a hole 52b formed directly below the upper end of the lock lever 55, and a float valve 57 that is inserted into a vertical hole of the safety rubber valve 56 and can move up and down.

  In the cooking device 50, when the operation switch is turned on, the internal pressure in the container body increases. As the internal pressure rises, the float valve 57 moves upward and pushes up one end of the lock lever 55. Then, the lock lever 55 rotates around the shaft 58, and the protrusion 55 a at the lower end of the lock lever 55 protrudes from the lateral hole 52 a on the side surface of the lid body to the inside of the side surface of the lid body 52, 55a is arranged side by side with the protrusion (not shown) of the container body. Even if it is intended to rotate the lid relative to the container body, the protrusion 55a of the lock lever 55 is engaged with the edge of the protrusion of the container body, and the lid and the container body are engaged. Accordingly, the lid 52 cannot be removed from the container main body 51.

  Therefore, this cooker ensures safety because the container body and the lid are not disengaged while the container body is under internal pressure.

  Moreover, the applicant of this application has also acquired the patent of the rice cooker provided with such a cover body locking mechanism (refer the following patent document 2).

  This rice cooker has a rice cooker body that contains an inner pot and has a heat source for heating the inner pot, a lid that pivots on one side of the rice cooker body, and is openable and closable above the inner pot. An inner lid that covers the opening, and a lock device that is located on the opposite side of the lid from the pivot side and holds the lid in a closed state. A locking plate having a latching part and a latching piece in part, a lock release button provided on the upper part of the rice cooker body and latching to the latching piece, and a stopper latching on the latching part In the closed state of the lid body, the locking plate is configured such that the latching portion bites into the stopper obliquely and locks as the inner lid floats due to the pressure increase in the inner pot. It is a thing.

According to this rice cooker, as the pressure in the inner pot rises, the latching part of the locking plate bites into the stopper diagonally, and the latching (locked state) between the lid and the rice cooker body is ensured, and unexpectedly The lid will not open and the cooked rice in the pan will not splash outside.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-74658 (FIGS. 3 and 4, claims for utility model registration) Japanese Patent No. 2816112 (FIGS. 1, 3 and claims)

  In the pressure cookers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when the pressure in the container increases, the locked state becomes stronger, and the lid body is not unexpectedly opened during operation.

  However, in this type of pressure cooker, although it is locked by covering the opening of the container main body with a lid during use, it may not be locked securely, and may be in a semi-locked state, for example. The cause is due to the carelessness of the user, for example, when the user is not surely locked when closing the lid, or the elbow etc. touches the release button accidentally even after being locked. The majority of things.

  Here, when the lid is in a semi-locked state, when the cooker falls or during operation of the cooker, the lid opens unexpectedly and the food in the container is scattered outside. There is. In particular, when rice cooking is started in a half-locked state, the pressure inside the container increases with the rice cooking process, the lid opens easily, and the heated cooking object scatters outside and hits the user. Risk of burns. Such a fear becomes particularly remarkable when cooking the food to be cooked using the pressurizing means. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the lid body from being unexpectedly opened due to an increase in internal pressure accompanying the operation of the pressurizing means.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mode in which cooking is performed under pressure (pressure cooking mode) and a mode in which cooking is performed at normal pressure (normal pressure cooking mode). If the lid is not securely locked to the main body of the cooker at the start of the operation of the cooker or within a predetermined time from the start of the operation, it is safe to automatically control to the normal pressure cooking mode. The object is to provide a pressure cooker with increased pressure.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application includes a container into which an object to be cooked is charged, an opening in which the container is accommodated, and a heating means for heating the object to be cooked in the container. A cooker body, a lid body pivotally supported on one side of the cooker body and covering the opening, a pressure valve mounted on the lid body to adjust the internal pressure in the container, and the pressure valve A pressure cooker comprising: a pressure valve opening mechanism for controlling; and a control device for heating and cooking an object to be cooked by controlling the heating means,
The cooker body and the lid are locked by a locking mechanism, and the cooking device is provided with detection means for detecting the locked state of the locking mechanism, and the control device cooks under pressure. A mode (hereinafter referred to as pressure cooking mode), a mode for cooking at normal pressure (hereinafter referred to as normal pressure cooking mode), and a switching means for switching between the respective cooking modes,
When the operation state of the cooking device is started or within a predetermined time from the operation start time point, the detection unit detects the locking state, and when the detection unit detects the half-locked state of the lid, the control device, The switching means is operated to switch to the normal pressure cooking mode even if the cooking mode is selected as the pressure cooking mode.

  Moreover, the invention which concerns on Claim 2 of this application has the latching member by which the said latching mechanism of Claim 1 latches by the latching | locking part of either the said cooker main body or the said cover body, The locking member has the locking claw at one end and a protruding piece at the other end, and a part between both ends is composed of a lever pivotally supported by the cooker body or the lid. .

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is characterized in that the detection means according to claim 1 or 2 is configured by a switch that is operated by movement of the locking member.

  The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is characterized in that the detection means according to claim 1 or 2 is configured by a non-contact type sensor that operates by movement of the locking member.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cooker body and the lid are locked by the locking mechanism, the cooking device is provided with the detecting means for detecting the locked state of the locking mechanism, and the control device is pressure cooked. Mode, a normal pressure cooking mode, and a switching means for switching between these modes, the locking state is detected by the detecting means at the start of the operation of the cooker or within a predetermined time from the start of the operation. When the half-locked state is detected, the control device operates the switching means to switch to the normal pressure cooking mode even if the cooking mode is selected as the pressure cooking mode. Unexpected opening is prevented and cooking can be done safely.

  According to invention of Claim 2, a locking mechanism has a locking member locked by the locking part of either a cooker main body or a cover body, and a locking member has a locking claw and the other end at one end. Since the lever has a protruding piece and a part between both ends is pivotally supported by the cooker main body or the lid body, the locking claw of the locking member is locked by using the lever action of the lever. Can be easily bitten with a small force.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the detection means is constituted by a switch that is activated by the movement of the locking member, various switches such as a micro switch can be used, and the switch can be easily attached.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the detecting means is constituted by a non-contact type sensor that is activated by the movement of the locking member, there are various non-contact type sensors, for example, electric, pressure, and optical sensors. Can be used, and a detection means having a high detection and response speed, a long life, and a high reliability can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a pressure cooker for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to identify the present invention as this pressure cooker. Other embodiments within the scope of the claims are equally applicable.

  1 is a front view of a pressure cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cooker of FIG. 1 with the outer case removed, and FIG. 3 is A of the lid locking mechanism of FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view according to another embodiment with the outer case of the cooking device of FIG. 1 removed, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of B portion of the lid locking mechanism of FIG. It is sectional drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the pressure cooker 1 includes a container 7 into which a rice to be cooked is put, an opening into which the container 7 is inserted, and the container 7 by heating the container 7 inside. A cooker body 2 having a heating means 5 for heating the lid, a lid 10 with a locking mechanism pivotally supported on one side of the cooker body 2 to cover the opening and lock in a closed state, and the lid 10 A pressure valve 13 that adjusts the internal pressure in the container 7, a pressure valve opening mechanism 18 that controls the pressure valve 13, and various rice cooking menus such as a pressure cooking mode and a normal pressure mode are displayed and selected. Based on the display operation unit 30 and the selected rice cooking menu, the heating means 5 and the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 are controlled to heat the cooked rice in the container 7 to a predetermined temperature and to supply a predetermined amount of moisture over a predetermined time. Water absorption process to absorb the cooked rice, boil this absorbed cooked rice And a control device 31 that sequentially executes a rising heating process for heating the cooked rice until it is heated, a boiling maintaining process for maintaining the cooked rice in a boiling state, and a steaming process for steaming the cooked rice after the boiling maintaining process. Yes.

  Hereinafter, the structure and control device of the pressure cooker 1 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cooker main body 2 includes a box-shaped outer case 3 with a bottom and an inner case 4 accommodated in the outer case 3, and includes an outer case 3 and an inner case 4. A gap is formed between the control circuit boards and the like (not shown) constituting the control device 31. The inner case 4 is provided with a heating means 5 at the bottom 4a and side 4b, and a pan bottom temperature sensor 6 comprising a thermistor for detecting the pan bottom temperature at the bottom 4a. As the heating means 5, an electromagnetic induction coil wound in an annular shape is used.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the cooking appliance main body 2 is provided with a display operation unit 30 including a display panel for displaying various rice cooking menus and an operation button for selecting the rice cooking menu on the front surface 3a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the container 7 is a relatively deep bottom container into which a predetermined amount of cooked rice made of water and rice is put, and is formed of a clad material of aluminum and stainless steel. It is installed inside.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lid 10 includes an inner lid 11 that closes the opening of the container 7, an outer lid 12 that closes the entire opening of the cooker body 2, and the like. One side of the lid 10 is pivotally supported by the cooker body 2 by a hinge mechanism, and the other side is latched by a latching portion of the cooker body by a lid latch mechanism 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lid locking mechanism 20 includes a locking member 22, a spring 24, and a fixing portion 25. The locking member 22 has a locking claw 22a that is locked to the locking portion 4c of the inner case 4 at one end and a protruding piece 22b at the other end, and a part between both ends is covered by the fixing portion 25. 10 is composed of a plate-like lever pivotally supported by 10. In addition, although the latching | locking part 4c was formed in the inner case 4 of the cooking appliance main body 2, when the latching member 22 is pivotally supported by the cooking appliance main body 2 by the fixing | fixed part 25, the latching | locking part 4c is lid | cover. It may be formed on the body 10.

  The locking member 22 is urged by a spring 24 in a direction in which the locking claw 22 a is locked to the locking portion 4 c of the cooker body 2. Further, the protruding piece 22b of the locking member 22 is brought into contact with one end of the release button 23 when the release button 23 is pressed down. When the release button 23 is pushed down, the locking member 22 rotates about the fixed portion 25, and the locking claw 22a can be detached from the locking portion 4c to open the lid 10. This detection means can be considered to be provided on the inside of the cooker body or on the upper part of the lid.

  2 and 3 show a state in which the detection means 26 is provided on the inner side of the cooker body 2. The detection means 26 includes a detection member 27 and a micro switch 28, and is provided on a side portion in the cooker body 2. When the locking claw 22a is locked to the locking portion 4c, the detection means 26 locks the cooker body 2 and the lid body 10 by the tip of the locking claw 22a touching one end of the detection member 27. Detect that it is in a state. When the tip of the locking claw 22a touches one end of the detection member 27, the other end of the detection member 27 rotates around the fixed portion 27a pivotally supported by the cooker body 2, and the microswitch 28 is used as the operating body. Against the actuator 28a. As a result, the movable contact of the micro switch 28 comes into contact with the terminal portion 28b, and the controller activates the cooking mode switching means 29 in response to the electrical signal, and switches to the normal pressure cooking mode even in the pressure cooking mode. In this case, as will be described later, the electromagnetic coil of the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 is excited, and the plunger 19b is operated to forcibly open the valve hole 13a.

  4 and 5 show a state in which the detection means 26 ′ is provided in the upper part of the lid body 10. The detection means 26 ′ includes a detection member 27 ′ and a micro switch 28 ′, and is provided in the upper part in the lid 10. When the locking claw 22a is locked to the locking part 4c, the protruding piece 22b touches one end of the detection member 27 ′, so that the detection means 26 ′ is in the locked state of the cooker body 2 and the lid body 10. Detect something. When the protruding piece 22b touches one end of the detection member 27 ′, the other end of the detection member 27 ′ rotates around the fixing portion 27a ′ pivotally supported by the lid body 10, and the actuator 28a ′ of the micro switch 28 ′ is rotated. Hit it. As a result, the movable contact of the micro switch 28 'comes into contact with the terminal portion 28b', and the control device operates the cooking mode switching means 29 in response to the electrical signal to switch to the normal pressure cooking mode even in the pressure cooking mode. Also in this case, the valve hole 13a is forcibly opened by the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 as described above.

  Here, the micro switches 28 and 28 'are used as components of the detection means 26 and 26', but a non-contact type sensor (proximity switch) may be used instead of the micro switches 28 and 28 '. Good. When a non-contact type sensor is used, there are advantages in that the response is fast, the lifetime is long, and the reliability is high.

  The inner lid 11 is provided with a pressure valve 13 and a pressure valve opening mechanism 18 that opens the pressure valve 13. The pressure valve 13 restricts movement of the valve seat 13b in which a valve hole 13a having a predetermined diameter is formed, a metal ball 13c placed on the valve seat 13b so as to close the valve hole 13a, and the ball 13c. By doing so, it is comprised with the cover 13d which hold | maintains the ball | bowl 13c on the valve seat 13b.

  The pressure valve opening mechanism 18 is controlled by the control device 31. That is, based on a command from the control device 31, when the electromagnetic coil is excited, the plunger 19b jumps out of the cylinder 19a and collides with the ball 13c, pushing the ball 13c laterally. By this extrusion, the ball 13c moves on the valve hole 13a and forcibly opens the valve hole 13a. Further, in this open state, when excitation to the electromagnetic coil is stopped, the plunger 19b is drawn into the cylinder 19a by the urging force of a spring (not shown), and this retraction causes the plunger 19b to move the ball 13c laterally. The pushing force is lost, the ball 13c returns to the valve hole 13a, and the valve hole 13a is closed by the ball 13c.

  The outer lid 12 is provided with a steam port 41 that communicates between the inner lid 11 and the outer lid 12. In addition, the inner lid 11 is provided with a safety valve 42 for releasing the pressure in the container 7 to the outside through the steam port 41 when the pressure of the steam in the container 7 rises to an abnormal pressure higher than a predetermined pressure. It has been. Further, a steam temperature sensor (not shown) is attached to the inner lid 11.

  The control device 31 includes hardware including a circuit board on which a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like are mounted, and is connected to a menu key, a start key, a reservation key, a pan bottom temperature sensor, and a steam sensor, respectively. This signal is input to the CPU. The CPU is connected to a timer for measuring a predetermined time, a rice cooking menu detection means, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU controls the heating means, the display panel, and the pressure valve opening mechanism. The pressure valve opening mechanism control means is executed.

  Next, the rice cooking process by the rice cooking menu of this pressure cooker is demonstrated with reference to the flowchart of FIGS. In addition, although various rice cooking menus are displayed on a display panel, below, white rice and a standard rice cooking menu are demonstrated.

  First, in step S <b> 101, the container 7 into which a predetermined amount of water and white rice is charged by the user is accommodated in the inner case 4, and is locked in a closed state by closing the lid 10. Next, in step S102, when the rice cooking menu is selected by operating the display operation unit 30 and the start button is pressed by the display operation unit 30 in step S103, rice cooking starts. When the operation of the pressure cooker 1 starts, in step S104, a high-frequency current is applied to the heating means 5 attached to the outer bottom wall and the outer wall of the inner case 4, and an eddy current is generated in the container 7 to generate the container. Is heated and heating of the cooked rice is started.

When heating is started and it is determined in step S105 that the cooking mode is in the normal pressure cooking mode, and it is determined that the rice cooking menu is in the normal pressure cooking mode, the normal pressure cooking mode is determined, and the process proceeds to step S109b. On the other hand, if it is determined that the rice cooking menu is in the pressure cooking mode, the detection means 26 starts detecting the locked state of the lid body 10 in step S106. Step S10
7, when the detection means 26 determines that the half-locked state is not met, that is, when the tip of the locking claw 22 a comes into contact with one end of the detection means 26, the detection member 27 rotates around the fixed portion 27 a and the microswitch 28 is activated. Further, when the detection means 26 determines in step S107 that it is in a half-locked state, that is, within the predetermined time from the start pressing or the start pressing in step S103, the tip of the locking claw 22a is one end of the detection means 26. If not touched, the switching means 29 is activated in step S108 to switch from the pressure cooking mode to the normal pressure cooking mode.

Hereinafter, the pressure cooking mode and the normal pressure cooking mode will be described in this order.
[Pressure cooking mode]
When the electrical signal from the micro switch 28 is received, the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 is operated by the control device 31 to move the ball 13c, the pressure valve 13 is opened in step S109a, and the water absorption process is executed in step S110a. . When the execution of this water absorption process is started, a water absorption timer (not shown) starts measuring the water absorption time T1 in step S111a, and then the pot bottom temperature K1 is measured by the pot bottom temperature sensor 6 in step S112a. The measurement of the pan bottom temperature K1 is performed until a predetermined temperature is reached. When it is confirmed in step S113a that the pan bottom temperature has reached a predetermined value, for example, 55 ° C., the heating amount of the heating means 5 is controlled by the control device 31 in step S114a. The water absorption time is measured while controlling and keeping the cooked rice at a predetermined temperature. This water absorption step is continued for a predetermined water absorption time T1, for example, 10 minutes.

  When a predetermined water absorption time T1 (10 minutes) elapses in step S115a, the process proceeds to step S116a and proceeds to the start-up heating process. In this start-up heating process, the heating means 5 is fully heated (full power heating) so as to be in a boiling state in a short time, and the control valve 31 operates the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 to pull back the plunger 19b. The pressure valve 13 is closed by the ball 13c. That is, in step S117a, the ball 13c rolls on the valve hole 13a by its own weight to close the valve hole 13a, and the pressure valve 13 is closed. In this state, the pressure in the container 7 is increased until the pressure rises to a pressure value at which the ball 13c can be pushed up through the valve hole 13a. Therefore, the pressure of the steam in the container 7 at this time can be appropriately adjusted by setting the weight of the ball 13c and the size of the valve hole 13a.

  In this start-up heating process, in step S118a, the steam temperature K2 is measured by a steam temperature sensor (not shown). And when this steam temperature K2 reaches predetermined temperature, for example, 75 degreeC in step S119a, it will become the temperature which a to-be-cooked rice causes a boiling phenomenon, and a start-up heating process is complete | finished. The pressure in the container 7 at this time is controlled by the pressure valve 13 and becomes a predetermined pressure equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure, for example, about 1.2 atmosphere. And as shown in FIG. 7, a boiling maintenance process is started in step S120a.

  If it transfers to a boiling maintenance process, the pressure in the container 7 will become a predetermined pressure more than atmospheric pressure, for example, about 1.2 atmospheres, and a to-be-cooked rice will boil at the saturation temperature corresponding to this pressure.

  In the boiling maintenance process, the pressure valve 13 is opened by moving the ball 13c by operating the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 immediately by the control device 31 in step S121a. In this opening operation, heating of the heating means 5 is stopped in step S122a, and the forced opening operation of the pressure valve 13 is continued for a predetermined time, for example, 4 seconds in step S123a. The forced opening operation of the pressure valve 13 reduces the pressure in the container 7 to near atmospheric pressure.

  Thus, in the boiling maintenance step, when the pressure in the container 7 is reduced from the predetermined boiling pressure (about 1.2 atm) to near atmospheric pressure at once, the inside of the container 7 is in a violent bumping state. In this bumping state, bubbles are generated in the container, and the cooked rice is stirred by the bubbles. As a result, the cooked rice is heated uniformly and cooked.

  The predetermined time for forcibly opening the pressure valve 13 is set to a time (ie, about 4 seconds) such that the pressure in the container 7 returns to approximately atmospheric pressure by the first forced opening operation of the pressure valve 13. . By setting the time for forcibly opening the pressure valve 13 to atmospheric pressure in this way, the maximum agitation energy can be obtained. Further, after the pressure valve 13 is forcibly opened for the predetermined time (4 seconds), the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 is operated in step S124a to close the pressure valve again. In step S125a, In S126a, for example, heating is performed again for 28 seconds. This heating time (28 seconds) is a time required for the pressure in the container 7 to recover to the aforementioned predetermined pressure (about 1.2 atmospheres). This time is obtained experimentally in advance.

  In step S127a, the forcible opening of the pressure valve 13 by the pressure valve opening mechanism is repeated a plurality of times, for example, six times. In addition, if time passes in the boiling process shown to S125a and S126a, the residual water amount in the container 7 will decrease, a pressure fluctuation range will become small, and a bumping phenomenon will become weak. For this reason, forcibly opening the pressure valve 13 is effective when concentrated in the initial stage of the boiling maintenance process.

  When the operation of opening the pressure valve 13 a plurality of times is finished, the forcible opening of the pressure valve 13 by the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 is stopped in step S128a, and the pressure valve 13 is closed. And the boiling state by the heating means 5 is continued in step S129a, and the pan bottom temperature K3 is measured in step S130a. In step S131a, when the pan bottom temperature K3 reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, 130 ° C., it is determined that the water in the container 7 has dried up and the forced dry-up is finished. In step S132a, the heating operation by the heating unit 5 is stopped. The

Subsequently, in step S133a, the process is first shifted to the steaming step 1, and the timing of the steaming time T2 is started. When a predetermined steaming time T2 elapses in step S134a for a predetermined time, for example, 4 minutes, the pressure valve 13 is forcibly opened by the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 in step S135a, and the process proceeds to the additional cooking step. If it enters into this additional cooking process, while reheating by the heating means 5 and evaporating the water adhering to the surface of rice, the additional cooking (reheating) time T3 is measured in step S136a. And when predetermined | prescribed additional cooking time T3, for example, 3 minutes, pass in step S137a, the heating operation by the heating means 5 is stopped, it transfers to the steaming process 2, and the steaming time T4 is timed in step S138a. When the steaming time T4 elapses in step S139a for a predetermined time, for example, 5 minutes, rice cooking is terminated in step S140a, and the process proceeds to a heat retaining process in step S141a, and the standard rice cooking process is terminated.
[Normal pressure cooking mode]
On the other hand, when the operation of the switching means 29 is started in step S108 and switched to the normal pressure cooking mode, the pressure valve opening mechanism 18 is operated by the control device 31 to move the ball 13c, and in step S109b, the pressure valve 13 is opened. After that, the pressure valve 13 is kept open. In step S110b, a water absorption process is performed. When the execution of this water absorption process is started, a water absorption timer (not shown) starts measuring the water absorption time T1 in step S111b, and then the pot bottom temperature K1 is measured by the pot bottom temperature sensor 6 in step S112b. When it is confirmed in step S113b that the measurement of the pan bottom temperature K1 has reached a predetermined value, for example, 55 ° C., the heating amount of the heating means 5 is controlled by the control device 31 in step S114b to keep the cooked rice at a predetermined temperature. Meanwhile, the water absorption time is measured. This water absorption step is continued for a predetermined water absorption time T1, for example, 10 minutes.

  When a predetermined water absorption time T1 (10 minutes) elapses in step S115b, the process proceeds to step S116b and proceeds to the start-up heating process. In this start-up heating process, the heating means 5 is fully heated (full power heating) so as to be in a boiling state in a short time.

  In this start-up heating process, in step S117b, the steam temperature K2 is measured by a steam temperature sensor (not shown). And when this steam temperature K2 reaches (100 degreeC) in step S118b, it will become the temperature which a to-be-cooked rice causes a boiling phenomenon, and a start-up heating process is complete | finished. And as shown in FIG. 8, a boiling maintenance process is started in step S119b.

  And the boiling state by the heating means 5 is continued and the pan bottom temperature K3 is measured in step S120b. Then, when the pan bottom temperature K3 reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, 130 ° C. in step S121b, it is determined that the water in the container 7 has dried up and the forced dry-up has been completed, so that the heating action by the heating means 5 is stopped in step S122b. The

  Subsequently, the steaming process 1 is started. In step S123b, the steaming process 1 is first started, and the steaming time T2 is started. In step S124b, when the predetermined steaming time T2 elapses for a predetermined time, for example, 4 minutes, the process proceeds to the additional cooking step in order to evaporate the water attached to the surface of the rice. In step S125b, the additional cooking (reheating) time T3 is measured, and when a predetermined additional cooking time T3, for example, 3 minutes elapses in step S126b, the heating operation by the heating means 5 is stopped, and the process proceeds to the steaming step 2. In step S127b, the steaming time T4 is counted. Then, when the steaming time T4 elapses for a predetermined time, for example, 5 minutes in step S128b, rice cooking ends in step S129b, the process proceeds to a heat retaining process in step S130b, and the rice cooking process in the white rice / standard menu ends.

  In this embodiment, the detection of the locking state of the lid is performed at the start of the operation of the pressure cooker, but within a predetermined time from the start of the operation of the pressure cooker, for example, immediately before the start-up heating process. It is good also as detecting.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pressure cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cooking device of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion A of the lid locking mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the cooking device of FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion B of the lid locking mechanism of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure for using the pressure cooker. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure for using the pressure cooker. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure for using the pressure cooker. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional pressure cooker. FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the main part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pressure cooker 2 Cooker main body 3 External case 4 Internal case 4a Bottom part 4b Side part 4c Locking part 5 Heating means 6 Pan bottom temperature sensor 7 Container 10 Lid body 11 Inner lid 12 Outer lid 13 Pressure valve 18 Pressure valve opening mechanism 19a Cylinder 19b Plunger 20 Lid locking mechanism 22 Locking member 22a Locking claw 22b Projection piece 23 Release button 24 Spring 25 Fixing part 26, 26 'Detection means 27, 27' Detection member 27a, 27a 'Fixing part 28, 28' Microswitch 28a, 28a 'Actuator 28b, 28b' Terminal 29 Switching means 30 Display / operation unit 31 Controller 41 Steam port 42 Safety valve

Claims (4)

A cooker body having a container into which an object to be cooked is charged, an opening in which the container is accommodated, and a heating means for heating the object to be cooked in the container, and pivotally supported on one side of the cooker body A lid that covers the opening; a pressure valve that is attached to the lid to adjust the internal pressure in the container; a pressure valve opening mechanism that controls the pressure valve; and a cooking object that controls the heating means. A pressure cooker comprising:
The cooker body and the lid are locked by a locking mechanism, and the cooking device is provided with detection means for detecting the locked state of the locking mechanism, and the control device cooks under pressure. A mode (hereinafter referred to as pressure cooking mode), a mode for cooking at normal pressure (hereinafter referred to as normal pressure cooking mode), and a switching means for switching between the respective cooking modes,
When the operation state of the cooker or within a predetermined time from the operation start time, the detection unit detects the locking state, and when the detection unit detects the half-locked state of the lid, the control device, The pressure cooker, wherein the switching means is operated to switch to the normal pressure cooking mode even if the cooking mode is selected as the pressure cooking mode.   The locking mechanism has a locking member that is locked to a locking portion of either the cooker body or the lid, and the locking member has the locking claw at one end and a protruding piece at the other end. The pressure cooker according to claim 1, wherein the pressure cooker includes a lever pivotally supported by the cooker body or the lid body.   The pressure cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection means is configured by a switch that is activated by movement of the locking member.   The pressure cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection means is configured by a non-contact sensor that operates by movement of the locking member.

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